Richard Thompson - 1952 Vincent Black Lightning - NY 1992

Another great version of '1952 Vincent Black Lightning' live @ The Church of St. Anne & The Holy Trinity in Brooklyn NY back in 1992. Again, an old audience VHS recording with a very good sound..

[@richardbrucemusic]

A younger and fiercer Richard Thompson. He's one of the most underrated singer/songwriter/guitarists alive today.

[@freyatilly]

Yo! Love this beyond all measure. Vincent plus Red hair and black leather. Total dream.

[@haroldsteinblatt2567]

This is way before he got kind of tired of performing it; it was demanded of him by every audience for years. The version here is fresh, the song was pretty new. 'Rumor and Sigh' remains a great album.

[@haroldsteinblatt2567]

I was at this show, sitting way up in the back, near the church organ. He was amazing. Still young. So was I. Even way back then, the church was the most liberal house of worship in the city and a great cultural center to boot. Thompson's son, Teddy, was there, a little blonde boy who could have been in the cast of 'Lord of the Flies.'

[@Darksinrising]

That's the best video I'll see on here all year

[@jonstern7511]

One of the best, most exquisitely crafted songs written by anyone ever!

[@evreet2000]

Jon Stern this and Robert Earl Keen's The Road Goes On Forever

[@andyking7621]

yep

[@captainphasma598]

Agreed! Sad it gets butchered all the time by crappy country rock covers.

[@jonstern7511]

@@captainphasma598 my view is it's a much loved song and the covers are valid and often decent if not necessarily as good as Richards original of course! 👍

[@selewachm]

I' m a huge fan since Fairport Convention. Seen him multiple times. He played at the Houston some type of festival and he started off with "Says to James to Red Molly.... He stopped and chuckled and started over. One of my favorites.

[@jayzasa5002]

I was at this show and this performance changed my life.

[@johnterencejr]

That's so fucking cool. I would honestly love to hear the whole story. Can you write it?

[@jayzasa5002]

@@johnterencejr I had just moved to NYC, and me and my roommate bought tix to see David Byrne play an acoustic show at St. Ann's Church (a beautiful old venue) in Brooklyn. A guy named Richard Thompson was opening. I sort of vaguely knew who he was before the show, but from the minute he took the stage, I was absolutely transfixed. What he was doing with just his guitar was incredible. "Vincent Black Lightning" was a brand new song at the time and it just blew everyone out of their seats. "She Moved Through the Fair" was another incredible highlight but the whole show was just top notch. My roommate a cassette bootleg of it that we used to listen to all the time. I became lifelong fan of RT from that night forward. So amazing that this is online here.

[@johnterencejr]

Jay Zasa awesome, man. Just awesome.

[@kmerena]

@@jayzasa5002 Thank you. I live for stuff like that.

[@nickpro11]

What a song. How does someone even write something like this?

[@stevebrown3955]

His performance of this song must have been on a tour supporting “Rumor and Sigh”. It’s the only Richard Thompson CD I own, and every single song on it is amazing!! Would love to see him live some day, but he doesn’t show up in Minnesota often.

[@peterottes6900]

I really hope you get the chance. He is a performer above others. His work is vast and amazing. From Fairport Convention to French, Frith, Kaiser, and Thompson, to all of his solo work. I've seen him numerous (12-13?) times.. Always amazed and delighted.

[@REBBEORNOT]

I totally agree. This is an epic movie, a poetic vision, and a precious and brutal love song by the very great Richard Thompson. Eow, and triple wow!

[@xkguy]

Amazing as always.

[@TomRAFC]

finally a really good live video of this one, he hits the intro on the head and thats it theres not stopping him, a true acoustic genius

[@northerngirl100]

the most romantic song I've heard in ages

[@josefinagarza241]

I love his rendition of She moved through the fair.❤

[@PeteD1884]

2011 - (almost ten years later) Richard played this song in Cincinnati. There is nothing like seeing/hearing this live.

[@ebaylistentomusic]

Who could have imagined at this stage, an album as great as Ship To Shore? He actually is still getting better.

[@zachmeadows1121]

What a tale in the form of song..

[@DavidCKendall]

This bloke's a God.....enjoying this on Easter Sunday.....my soul resurrected.

[@DaddyMandM]

Modern traditionel. A masterpiece. Beautiful riff. Thanks Richard

[@gregdray8199]

I've seen Richard oh probably 6 times? Once with Teddy! Wow! I've met him twice. Last I saw him this past summer in Kent and he was very sick but he still performed. He is so entertaining and funny and his guitar playing is phenomenal! Other than Tommy Emanuel I can't think of a more talented individual.

[@aum3.146]

Some artists are more, they're ARTISTS. He's one of those.

[@MosheFeder]

Having heard him do it so many times since - most recently just last Saturday at Symphony Space - it’s neat to be able to hark back to when I saw him perform it in Brooklyn just a year after its debut on “Rumor & Sigh.” Hard to believe this show at St. Anne's was 28 years ago! I hope that wasn’t me shouting “Dymaxion” from the audience during his Buckminster Fuller bit!

[@nelsonphilip4520]

Long live the Dymaxion!

[@REBBEORNOT]

Haha! Genius at wirk!

[@Lowden025]

I ve watched half a dozen vids of this song because l m relearning it. I didn’t cheat though, l learned it by ear long time ago. I recommend to players of any level try to learn by ear first. Anyway, he s play it through decades and still gives it something new even today every time he plays it.

[@raddepadde3177]

amazing playing!!!MY hats of to you!!:)

[@richardsteinberg9696]

I saw this benefit show as well with my friend Tom. Best concert I have ever attended.

[@coriddihart]

Thank you for posting this - best live version i've seen.

[@tedralko1876]

Not to brag but in 2013 I played this in his style at an open-mic show. After practicing it for 2 months, I hit it very close on guitar and vocal, but, hay not this well and still I got a standing ovation. The last thing they where expecting was the "52 Vincent" by Richard Thompson. Myself born in 1952, most impressive song in this style ever....."Grateful Ted" of Reno.

[@Arthur-hg7ny]

1954 (not 52) Black Vincent just sold at Mecum for $115k. This song has helped their value for sure

[@thinkerguy4]

Agreed, Jon Stern.

[@ThinkingCap_]

Kate Wolf festival yesterday ------ pure genius

[@kentfrazier4481]

I can't get the volume l louder than a whisper, any suggestions?

[@krusty6246]

That one thumbs down got to be a mistake. Please correct

[@obeyken]

It was that guy in the audience

[@mesechabe]

"There's No Place Like Dome" is indeed a great song about Buckminster Fuller, but I prefer "Dymaxion Hell" from the same rock opera. Third act.

[@richardmiranda640]

Why is every vid of this guy out of sync.

[@styvieagget4580]

I’m fully aware I’m being a penis on this one, but… what accent is he going for? 😆 I LOVE this song, but is it an Irish lad riding around Surrey? The chaos of the more recent Sean Rowe version is entirely up my street so I highly encourage folk to check that out too.

[@conanmcdonnell7390]

I'm Irish, and that is not an Irish accent. To me, this is a louche-sounding London accent.

[@terryhughes1355]

yes, you are being a penis

[@christophergossard1591]

that is sonething